Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-11-24
SOMETHING IN WOODWORK
Clever Imitation of Mahosany-Deceptiv.
Antique Oak.


Antique Oak.
Two small but elegant centre-tablcs
stood in the show-wndow of a furni
ture store few days ago and attracted
the attention of passers by their grace.
full design and soft, rich finish. One ap,
peared to be of dark mahogany, the
other Of antique English oak.
''Imported stocky' was casually
asked.
"Not at all, responded the dealer,
''made right here at home"
why, l didn't know any foreign
woods were brought to this city in un.
manufactured form?'
True enough; for what you are adj
mirng as foreign goods are made from
trees which grow plentifully in every
Indiana forest That apparently stylish
mahogany table is a tirst-class article
of wild cherry, and the antique oak
is not from England, but probably
from some white oak on the banks OF
White River"
Such clew to interesting develop.
meuts could not be disrcgarded, and
before many hours n NeWs reporter
was in the outskirts Of the city prowl-
ing about among tall chmneys, climb
ing over piles of lumber and rubbish,
and inquiring right and left for the
object Of his search. At last a large
building from which issued the peculiar
hum of woodworking machinery was
reached.
$50 you want to know how it is done,
do you?" said the chief owner at the
establishment after hasty statement
of the causes leading to the visit. "Well,
there is very little to learn. just
come with me and you can see it all in
few minutes"
"Three or four years ago, began the
guide, cit was found that our native
woods could be stained in close imita-
ton OF almost any of the high-priced
foreign stock, and since that time the
industry has become extensive. BY
experiment and comparison we have
learned that cherry is the best for the
manufacture OF mahogany finish,
though hard maple is much used and
answers the purpose very well The
dyes we use are all vegetable, and are
the extract of certain woods which are
common TO the chemical trade In
ferior work is sometimes made by using
anilme colors, but they are apt to fade
unless vanished as soon as dry. The
furniture is finished in the natural
color of the wood, as YOU sec here, be-
fore staining Then the dye is applied
with brush. like yarnish, and it per-
meates the pores SO deeply that the
later sandpapering and polishing pro-
cesses do not remove it,
gtfIH1- - ms H..
preached who seemed to be sprinkling
flour on a vanished table and washing
it off with a handful of moist rags,
lis polishing the furniture, which is
the next to the last stage of the work
After staining, tho wood is vanished
and sandpapered alternately, until the
final coat of yarnish is very smooth
and glossy. Then this man here scours
the gloss all Off with powdered pomice-
stone, which you see him using now.
After chat there remains but one pro-
cess, the finishing in oil. The pomice-
stone removes the gloss but leaves the
surface perfectly smooth and hard.
Then oil is rubbed on with care and
deiberation, until the soft finish which
is 50 much sought after is obtained
FURNITURE stained and oiled in this
manner viii not fade, and scratches or
bruises viii not look white and raw,
rs they do on a vanished finish.
I'VE have a delicate pnkish shade
of natural cherry and which is
about the color Of cherry wood which
has been exposed to the air for
many years Our mahogany finish is
easily distinguishabIe from genuine